Mouth plate



Jan. 3, 1939. r R T rrc LL 2,142,614

MOUTH PLATE Filed July 23, 19s? Inventor Attorneys Batented Jan. 3? 1939;,

UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICE MOUTH PLATE Richard Travis Mitchell, Price, Utah Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,327

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a mouth plate for use on a corpse, particularly where the teeth are missing or where the use of false teeth destroys the natural expression of the mouth and general facial contour of the corpse. The general object of the invention is to provide a plate formed of such material that it can be readily shaped by the embalmer or undertaker to the desired shape and also to provide means whereby the plate can is be reduced in size.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accom- 15 panying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding 20 parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a face View of the plate.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the plate shaped for insertion into the mouth of the corpse.

Figure 3 is a view showing the device in position in the mouth of a corpse.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In these views the letter A indicates the plate 30 which is formed of any suitable material that can be readily shaped and molded by the hands of the embalmer or undertaker to the shape he desires and said plate is formed with the enlarged rounded ends I which gradually decrease 35 in width to the small center 2 and at this center the edges are indented to form the V-shaped recesses 3, Any desired number of weakened lines 4 are formed in the plate adjacent the edges thereof so that the plate can be broken at any one of these lines to reduce the size of the plate.

The plate is bent into substantially U-shape so that it will fit in the mouth of the corpse, as shown in Figure 3, and any suitable means may be used for holding the plate in position, if such means are necessary.

This invention provides the undertaker or embalmer with a convenient and expeditious means of closing the mouth of a corpse particularly Where the corpse is devoid of teeth or where the use of false teeth destroys the natural expression of the mouth and general facial contour. The invention replaces the general and less satisfactory practice employed by embalmers, of

packing and building up the mouth of the corpse by the use of cotton or the like,

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

A mouth plate for a corpse comprising a member having enlarged anchoring ends and the width of the member gradually decreasing in width from said ends to the center and said member having weakened lines adjacent its edge for enabling edge portions to be removed to reduce the size of the plate.

RICHARD TRAVIS MITCHELL. 

